"Where Dreams Go To Die", a brand new song from the Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, can be streamed below. The track comes off the band's new album, simply titled "Queensrÿche", which will be released on June 25 via Century Media Records. The cover artwork was created by Craig Howell, who has previously worked on designs for "Star Wars", SLIPKNOT and "American Idol", to name a few.

"Queensrÿche" marks the debut release from the lineup comprised of La Torre (vocals; ex-CRIMSON GLORY), Michael Wilton (guitar), Parker Lundgren (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums). The drums for the album were recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington with producer James "Jimbo" Barton — the man who engineered and mixed the band's classic 1988 LP, "Operation: Mindcrime", and its 1990 follow-up, "Empire", and co-produced 1994's "Promised Land". The rest of the music and vocals were laid down at several different facilities on the West Coast.

"Queensrÿche" track listing:

01. X2
02. Where Dreams Go To Die
03. Spore
04. In This Light
05. Redemption
06. Vindication
07. Midnight Lullaby
08. A World Without
09. Don't Look Back
10. Fallout
11. Open Road

Several versions of "Queensrÿche" are now available for pre-order:

*** Standard Jewel Case Version
Regular CD that includes a 4x4 patch.

*** Deluxe Box Set Edition CD (North America only)

Regular CD with the following bonus tracks:

* Queen Of The Reich (live)
* En Force (live)
* Prophecy (live)
Housed in a small box with an exclusive patch, sticker, guitar pick and button pack.

*** 2-CD Media Book (For Europe only)
Standard CD, plus 2nd CD with the following bonus tracks, all recorded live in Snoqualmie, WA on October 27, 2012:

01. Queen Of The Reich (live)
02. En Force (live)
03. Prophecy (live)

*** LP Version
One LP with the standard cd inserted into the sleeve as a bonus.

Side A

01. X2
02. Where Dreams Go To Die
03. Spore
04. In This Light
05. Redemption
06. Vindication

Side B

01. Midnight Lullaby
02. A World Without
03. Don't Look Back
04. Fallout
05. Open Road
06. Queen Of The Reich (live)
07. En Force (live)

*** iTunes Digital Version
Standard CD version, plus the following bonus tracks:

01. Queen Of The Reich (live)
02. En Force (live)

Fans were treated to a taste of the new album when the band released "Redemption" and it has been garnering praise ever since. The song has been listened to over 185,000 times on YouTube since it was unveiled in March.

Asked which album in QUEENSRŸCHE's catalog would most closely compare to what the band is doing now, drummer Scott Rockenfield told "Noize In The Attic": "Our big goal was, once we kind of made our transition last year and moved on as a band, and Todd being in the band, and our focus of the live shows and everything, it's always kind of been about looking at what really made QUEENSRŸCHE special. And for the live show, it's the old stuff. And we've been focusing a lot, in the show, doing that, for the last year, and we're continue to focus on doing that. On the record, I think the vein of what the record is a combination of all that great old stuff that we're kind of known best for. I mean, for me, I kind of summarize it by saying, to me, it's everything from the [debut] EP up to 'Empire', or maybe even 'Promised Land' at that point, which is, to me, the most defining catalog that we've ever done. And I think for this record, it's visiting that and taking that into the future."

Added guitarist Michael Wilton: "I also think that when you hear this record, each song is gonna be unique in its own. For people that have heard the single that's on YouTube called 'Redemption'. Everybody's asking, 'Is the album gonna sound just like that?' And I can say, 'No.' What's great about this record is that every individual here was in the creative process and the writing — there was no outside writers, like [there were] on the last few albums. And it really shows, and it's a real great blend of everybody's strength and their creative elements, and the songs are definitely reflective of the personalities of this band right now."

Continued Scott: "I think that's important. Especially what Michael was saying. I think the focus of that earlier stuff, there was a massive chemistry between all of us that really worked, and we wanted to find that chemistry again, 'cause we've, unfortunately, had to struggle with that the last few years. But we always knew that that's what we wanted to do, so now that we're able to do that, finding that chemistry and that energy that got us to make those records is what that energy now is in this record. And Michael's right: the songs, there's a great variety of things in it, but they're all QUEENSRŸCHE, they're all us doing it, it's our chemistry of working together."

Said Michael: "If you listen to all the other albums, like from 'Promised Land' back to the EP, you're gonna hear all these dynamics, from song after another song — you're gonna hear those dynamics, and that's the same sort of approach we wanted to take on this new one."

"Where Dreams Go To Die" audio stream:

The official lyric video for the song "Kingdom Of The Lost" from BLACK STAR RIDERS — the new band formed by THIN LIZZY alumni Ricky Warwick (guitar, vocals), Damon Johnson (guitar), Scott Gorham (guitar), Marco Mendoza (bass) with new addition Jimmy DeGrasso (ALICE COOPER, MEGADETH, DAVID LEE ROTH, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES) on drums — can be seen below. The track comes off BLACK STAR RIDERS' debut album, "All Hell Breaks Loose", which will be released via Nuclear Blast Entertainment on the following dates:

* May 21 - Japan
* May 22 - Sweden
* May 24 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Norway
* May 27 - U.K., France, BeNeLux, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Greece
* May 28 - U.S., Canada, Italy, South America

The "All Hell Breaks Loose" artwork features a painting by Gil Elvgren (March 15, 1914 - February 29, 1980), the legendary U.S. painter best known for his work on pin-up girls, advertising and illustration.

The artwork ties directly to the origins of the album title. Warwick explains: "I was watching a documentary about World War II bombers and saw the name painted on the side of one of the aircraft. The name just resonated with me and it seem to encapsulate the turmoil that we, as a society, are currently experiencing. The past few years have been such a wild ride and now with the release of the album, it sounded like a bad-ass album title that summed up what BLACK STAR RIDERS is all about."

About the first single, Warwick states: "'Bound For Glory' — a song for the lost but never lonely, walking tall in the face of everyday adversary. Everyone has a story to tell. Revolution begins in the mirror!!!" Gorham adds: "When it came time to pick one of these songs as a single, we had a really hard time. There are so many really great tracks here and everyone had their favorites. But in the end, we all agreed that 'Bound For Glory' is the perfect choice and represents what BLACK STAR RIDERS is all about."

"All Hell Breaks Loose" was recorded and mixed by producer Kevin Shirley (LED ZEPPELIN, IRON MAIDEN, AEROSMITH, RUSH) at his The Cave studios in Malibu, California. Mastering duties were handled by Bob Ludwig (JIMI HENDRIX, RUSH, KISS, LED ZEPPELIN) at Gateway Mastering Studios in Portland, Maine.

"All Hell Breaks Loose" track listing:

01. All Hell Breaks Loose
02. Bound For Glory
03. Kingdom Of The Lost
04. Bloodshot
05. Kissin’ The Ground
06. Hey Judas
07. Hoodoo Voodoo
08. Valley Of The Stones
09. Someday Salvation
10. Before The War
11. Blues Ain't So Bad

The album will be released as a standard CD and also as a special-edition digipak featuring a bonus track, "Right To Be Wrong", and a "making-of" DVD.

"Kingdom Of The Lost" lyric video:

JON OLIVA'S PAIN and SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva will release his first-ever solo album, "Raise The Curtain", on June 21 in Europe and July 2 in North America via AFM Records. The 11-song CD, which contains ideas collected over the course of the last four or five years, was tracked this past winter at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida with producer Tom Morris, with Jon handling laying down nearly all the instrument tracks and vocals himself as well as playing drums on three songs.

"Raise The Curtain" will be released simply under the banner OLIVA and you can expect a mixture of Jon's early influences and the material he wrote and recorded throughout his whole career.

"Raise The Curtain" track listing:

01. Raise The Curtain
02. Soul Chaser
03. Ten Years
04. Father Time
05. I Know
06. Big Brother
07. Armageddon
08. Soldier
09. Stalker
10. The Witch
11. Can't Get Away
12. The Truth (bonus track)

"Raise The Curtain" will be made available as a CD digipak (first pressing) and two-LP vinyl (gatefold, limited to 800 copies worldwide).

Check out the cover artwork below.

Commented JON OLIVA'S PAIN drummer/producer Christopher Kinder: "Oliva will be the first to admit that it took one hell of a challenge writing, performing 90% of all the tracks himself and vocals... he is exhausted, for sure."

He added: "It's a very interesting and powerful offering. Diverse, emotional, and varying styles of writing and music everywhere. A truly great accomplishment for the mountain king, indeed."

Last summer, JON OLIVA'S PAIN toured Europe where it celebrated the 25th anniversary of one of heavy metal's most iconic records, "Hall Of The Mountain King" by SAVATAGE. The band performed the entire album as a special one-time-only treat for the still massive amount of loyal fans, along with songs from the DOCTOR BUTCHER album (by Jon Oliva and Chris Caffery, released in 1995), SAVATAGE and JON OLIVA'S PAIN.

Swedish melodic death metallers AMON AMARTH have released a trailer for their forthcoming mini-documentary. Fittingly titled "Forging Mjölnir", the short film will appear as a three-part series with each official segment slated to premiere via the band's microsite.

The "Forging Mjölnir" documentary comes in anticipation of AMON AMARTH's ninth studio offering, "Deceiver Of The Gods". Recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, United Kingdom, and produced, mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap (OPETH, MEGADETH, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE), the follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed 2011 "Surtur Rising" full-length delivers ten fiery battle hymns made of buzzsaw riffs and epic harmonies all driven by vocalist Johan Hegg's commanding Viking roar and absorbing accounts of Norse crusades and treachery.

"Deceiver Of The Gods" comes adorned with another outstanding Tom Thiel-created cover portraying a mythical battle between the Norse Gods Loki and Thor. As an added bonus, Messiah Marcolin (CANDLEMASS) makes an appearance as guest vocalist on eighth track, "Hel".

Available below is the black-and-white "Forging Mjölnir" trailer where the AMON AMARTH bandmembers discuss their earliest musical influences.

"Deceiver Of The Gods" will be released in North America via Metal Blade Records on June 25, in Europe June 24 and Japan on June 26.

Following a run of European festival dates next month, AMON AMARTH will open the main stage of this year's edition of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, set to commence June 29 in San Bernardino.

In a recent interview with France's LoudTV.net, Hegg stated about the recording process for "Deceiver Of The Gods": "It was pretty much six or seven weeks in January and February this year. So it went pretty quick. But when we went into the studio, we were very well prepared; we had all the songs written, we were well rehearsed. It went really quickly. We didn't have to change much. Everything was pretty much written. Every time you record something, there's always gonna be small changes, obviously, with songs, because when you rehearse it, maybe you don't hear that it didn't work perfectly, so you have to find another way. Or you come up with an idea of how something could be a little bit better. But all the songs were 99 percent ready, basically."

Asked if it was weird getting Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) to produce "Deceiver Of The Gods", Hegg said: "I don't think so. I mean, if you know where Andy comes from — HELL and SABBAT. He kind of has the same musical background as us; we were listening to the same stuff. And for us, we realized that his style of producing would fit the band. So when we decided to go for a new producer, Andy was a pretty definite choice, because we liked the stuff that he's done recently with ACCEPT, for instance, and KREATOR, and we felt that he could contribute something to our sound, and I think he did; I think it was a good choice. It was good for us to work with [previous producer] Jens [Bogren], but you know, after three albums, it felt like we needed a new challenge, a new voice in the whole production. For us, it felt natural to go with Andy. Especially after meeting him the first time… We were actually on tour and we met him in Wales. We just sat down and had a couple of beers and talked, and I think we hit it off straight away; it really felt good. So I think it was a good choice to work with Andy; he's a great producer and I think he did a perfect job."

Regarding whether Sneap has made AMON AMARTH sound more dynamic on the new album, Hegg said: "I think so. I think that the whole recording process, and the sound, and everything, is more organic, it feels more 'live,' [there's] a better groove to it than with Jens. I mean, Jens is a great producer — he has a very, very good ear for music — but somehow his productions are a little bit too clinical sometimes; they're too bang-on. I mean, some people love that. I wanna have that little groovy… so you get that live feeling, and I think that's important for a band like us as well. So I think it was a good choice to work with Andy for this album. Especially, also, when you consider the material that we had. There is a bit more groove to it, there is more ups and downs in the tempo, and I think it's easier to get that across if you do, as I said, a more organic, more natural flow kind of recording. Like I said, great job from him, and I'm glad that we lived up to it as well. [laughs]"

On the topic of whether "Deceiver Of The Gods" is AMON AMARTH's most diverse album to date, Hegg said: "I think so, yeah. And I think that's going back to what I said before — that we decided to let our influences shine through a lot more than we used to in the past. I mean, our influences have always been there, but we always kind of tried to keep them on the low side, not too evident, but now we let them come up in the production much more, and I think that was a good choice because it definitely gave the album a wide range."

"Deceiver Of The Gods" track listing:

01. Deceiver Of The Gods
02. As Loke Falls
03. Father Of The Wolf
04. Shape Shifter
05. Under Siege
06. Blood Eagle
07. We Shall Destroy
08. Hel
09. Coming Of The Tide
10. Warriors Of The North

Israeli progressive folk metal masters ORPHANED LAND will release thier sixth full-length album, "All Is One", in North America on June 25 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records. The cover artwork for the follow-up to 2010's "The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" was created by the French artist Metastazis (PARADISE LOST, AS I LAY DYING, SONNE ADAM, WATAIN) by perfectly incorporating the three biggest religious symbols into one piece of art.

"All Is One" track listing:

01. All Is One
02. The Simple Man
03. Brother
04. Let The Truce Be Known
05. Through Fire And Water
06. Fail
07. Freedom
08. Shama'im
09. Ya Benaye
10. Our Own Messiah
11. Children

The official lyric video for the song "Let The Truce Be Known" can be seen below.

Commented ORPHANED LAND singer Kobi Farhi: "I'll say it plain and simple — 'All Is One' is ORPHANED LAND's best album so far. I feel that we took all aspects to a new level — the way we write, arrange, play and produce.

"We recorded the album in three countries (Turkey, Sweden and Israel) and it turned out so strong, we can't stop listening to it.

"The album is very rich in sound, with more than 40 people participating (choirs, violins, and many traditional instruments, too).

"Our secret recipe was always the fact that unlike many other bands, ORPHANED LAND doesn't follow ONE master mind that writes everything; we work in a way that 'all is one.' We create our music in a perfect blend of synergy and harmony and all the band members are a part of this process. We translate the album's title and message exactly in the way we work, and we always hope we could give a bit of an inspiration to the people in the tragic Middle Eastern lands.

"We have fans all over the Middle East. We live in a place where huge amounts of people who consider themselves enemies still share one thing in common, they are all fans of ORPHANED LAND, and in these lands of orphans and bloody holy wars, our only weapon is music, and hopefully we will grow to understand that 'all is one.'"

ORPHANED LAND's forthcoming effort will be the band's first to feature guitarist Chen Balbus following the departure of Matty Svatizky in June 2012 due to "personal" and "professional" issues.

From September to November, ORPHANED LAND will play stages all over Europe in support of "All Is One" — but before heading out on this headlining tour, ORPHANED LAND will play a few festivals and shows in South America and Europe.

"The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 80 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" was released in Europe on January 25, 2010.

ORPHANED LAND's concert DVD, "The Road To OR-Shalem", was released in October 2011 in Europe and November 2011 in the U.S. via Century Media Records.

"Your Voice", the new video from Swiss modern melodic death metallers DREAMSHADE, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's sophomore album, "The Gift Of Life", which was released on January 25 via Spinefarm. The CD was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen.

DREAMSHADE parted ways with singer Iko Castelli in November 2011 due to musical differences and replaced him with Kevin Cali (ROOTS OF DEATH).

DREAMSHADE's debut album, "What Silence Hides", came out in March 2011. A press release previously described the CD as "sit[ting] loosely under the 'melodic death metal' banner, a genre that continues to be developed by [DREAMSHADE's] [then-]labelmates CHILDREN OF BODOM. [But] DREAMSHADE succeed in bringing modern elements to the traditions of the music — the result being a fresh blend of melodic death and progressive metal."

DREAMSHADE is:

Kevin Calì - Vocals
Fernando "Fella" Di Cicco - Guitar, Vocals
Rocco Ghielmini - Guitar
Ivan Moccia – Bass
Serafino "Sera" Chiommino - Drums

"Your Voice" video:

CRADLE OF FILTH's new video for the song "For Your Vulgar Delectation", taken from the British extreme metal band's latest album, "The Manticore And Other Horrors", is now available exclusively on iTunes as part of "The Manticore & Other Horrors - Extended Claws". This new release also features 12 unreleased demos and another three videos.

"The Manticore & Other Horrors - Extended Claws" track listing:

01. The Unveiling Of O
02. The Abhorrent
03. For Your Vulgar Delectation
04. Illicitus
05. Manticore
06. Frost On Her Pillow
07. Huge Onyx Wings Behind Despair
08. Pallid Reflection
09. Siding With The Titans
10. Succumb To This
11. Nightmares Of An Ether Drinker
12. Death, The Great Adventure
13. Sinfonia
14. The Unveiling Of O (Demo)
15. Manticore (Demo)
16. Siding With The Titans (Demo)
17. Death, The Great Adventure (Demo)
18. Succumb To This (Demo)
19. Huge Onyx Wings Behind Despair (Demo)
20. Illicitus (Demo)
21. Pallid Reflection (Demo)
22. The Abhorrent (Demo)
23. For Your Vulgar Delectation (Demo)
24. Frost On Her Pillow (Demo)
25. Sinfonia (Demo)

Check out audio samples at Amazon.de.

"For Your Vulgar Delectation" comes off CRADLE OF FILTH's tenth studio album, "The Manticore And Other Horrors", which sold 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous full-length effort, "Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa", opened with 5,800 units in November 2010 to land at No. 99.

CRADLE OF FILTH's 2008 CD, "Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder", premiered with a little over 11,000 copies to enter the chart at No. 48. This was slightly less than the first-week tally registered by 2006's "Thornography", which shifted nearly 13,000 copies the first week out to enter The Billboard chart at No. 66, and "Nymphetamine", which premiered with almost 14,000 copies back in October 2004.

"The Manticore And Other Horrors" was released in North America on October 30, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Recorded in eight weeks at both Springvale and Grindstone studios (where it was also mixed by Scott Atkins), Suffolk, "The Manticore And Other Horrors" is a testament to the longevity of the 'FILTH, as not only does it reek of CRADLE's (feared or revered) brand of delicious metal vamperotica, but this thoroughly modern album places the band firmly in fresh killing fields anew.

"The Manticore And Other Horrors" itself possesses an altogether new atmosphere for the band, incorporating a heavier, faster NWOBBM punk vibe that is both current and cruel, blended with ornate orchestration and the quirky immediateness of 2000's "Midian" opus.

The album's title can be likened to a bestiary, a collection of stories on monsters - personal demons, Chimeras, literary fiends and world-enslaving entities to blame but a few. "Manticore", the ravening title track, is a song about a beautiful mythological horror that comes to be feared as the disfigurehead of foreign occupation in the Indian provinces.

The songs "Illicitus" and "Pallid Reflection" bear the sweet ingredients of vampirism and lycanthropy; the wicked "For Your Vulgar Delectation" and "Frost On Her Pillow" are woven perversely into grim fairy tales, whilst classic, monumental tracks like "The Abhorrent And Siding With The Titans" both extol tentacular Lovecraftian values.

IN THIS MOMENT frontwoman Maria Brink joined DEVICE on stage yesterday (Sunday, May 19) at the Rock On The Range festival in Columbus, Ohio to perform a cover version of the 1988 Lita Ford/Ozzy Osbourne classic "Close My Eyes Forever". Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

DEVICE's self-titled debut album includes a cover of "Close My Eyes Forever", featuring guest vocals from HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale. The Pulse Of Radio asked DEVICE frontman David Draiman if he had been able to play the new version for either Lita or Ozzy yet. "Lita has heard it and she loved it," he said. "Ozzy, I have not sent to him. I only played it for Lita because she happened to be coming through town here in Austin, Texas and I went to go see her play. But I can only hope that both Ozzy and Sharon (Osbourne) love it and that they see it as what it is, which is just a tribute to the greatest heavy metal frontman of all time."

DEVICE's debut disc came out on April 9, selling 35,000 copies in its first week of release to enter the Billboard album chart at No. 11.

The live version of DEVICE, which features DOPE guitarist Virus and EVANESCENCE drummer Will Hunt in addition to Draiman, is currently on its first tour.

"Honor Never Dies", the new video from Connecticut hardcore/metal masters HATEBREED, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's latest album, "The Divinity Of Purpose", which sold 17,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 20 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous, self-titled CD opened with 15,000 units back in 2009 to enter the chart at No. 37.

HATEBREED's "Supremacy" album premiered with around 27,000 copies in September 2006 to land at No. 31. This number was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "Rise Of Brutality", which shifted more than 32,000 copies in November 2003 to debut at No. 30.

HATEBREED's covers album, entitled "For The Lions", sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release in May 2009 to debut at position No. 58 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"The Divinity Of Purpose" was released on January 29 in North America via Razor & Tie and on January 25 in Europe through Nuclear Blast. The CD was co-produced by HATEBREED, Chris "Zeuss" Harris (SUICIDE SILENCE, ALL THAT REMAINS, SHADOWS FALL) and Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD), with Wilbur also handling mixing duties. The cover artwork was created and illustrated by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, SIGH, ANACRUSIS, GWAR) and can be seen below.

"Fire, Fire", the new video from U.K. hard rockers HEAVEN'S BASEMENT, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's debut album, "Filthy Empire", which was released in North America on February 5 via Red Bull Records. The follow-up to the independently released "Unbreakable" EP was produced by John Feldmann (THE USED, PAPA ROACH, BLACK VEIL BRIDES).

"Filthy Empire" track listing:

01. Welcome Home
02. Fire, Fire
03. Nothing Left To Lose
04. When The Lights Go Out In London
05. I Am Electric
06. The Long Goodbye
07. Heartbreaking Son of a Bitch
08. Be Somebody
09. Can't Let Go
10. The Price We Pay
11. Jump Back
12. Executioner's Day

HEAVEN'S BASEMENT has been making a name for itself overseas via their relentless touring and fiery live show plus music that features huge guitar riffs, killer melodies and an arena-rock sound. The band recently supported HALESTORM and SEETHER on separate European tours.

Originally formed in the East Midlands in England in 2007 (although the band's current lineup came together more recently in 2009), HEAVEN'S BASEMENT has already toured with the likes of BUCKCHERRY, PAPA ROACH, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, SHINEDOWN, and more. Kerrang! magazine declared, "HEAVEN'S BASEMENT play as if their lives depend on it. They should already be a big name — bristling riffs and jagged, riotous hooks are their poison and exceptional is not too strong a word."

HEAVEN'S BASEMENT is Aaron Buchanan (vocals), Sid Glover (guitar), Rob Ellershaw (bass), and Chris Rivers (drums).

Metal guitar shredder "Metal" Mike Chlasciak (HALFORD, TESTAMENT, SEBASTIAN BACH) and C.M.M. Entertainment, LLC will release Chlasciak's new album, "The Metalworker" on June 4.

You can now stream the entire CD at this location.

An official exclusive pre-sale package, including a signed CD and postcard, plus a guitar pick, has been launched on www.metalmike.net.

"The Metalworker" will be officially available via iTunes, Amazon MP3, Rhapsody, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Tradebit, MySpace Music, Nokia and other major digital distributors. The album is also available in physical format across most locations that support and distribute quality metal, including CM Distro, Amazon.com, CD Universe and many others.

"The Metalworker" track listing:

01. On Leather Wings
02. Don't Shoot The Crown
03. We Are The Cross
04. M Is For Metal
05. Hell No!
06. Tonight We Ride
07. This Is War
08. Hails And Horns
09. Weight Of The Heart

Says Mike: "Foremost, I want to say thank to you for following my metal journey and sharing the passion with me for the only style of music that simply can not be challenged as far as the presence it bestows upon a fan's life. I believe one thing as we all have in common here is that we love heavy metal — loud, pure, unbending, cranking - the voice of the gods.

"It is with these thoughts that I try to approach making an album or participating in a tour. Metal, for me, is bigger than a CD in my collection or what's playing on the iPod while I do a task. In reality, there is no separation for me at all. It owns me and I own it. It's bigger than all of us, yet we are an integral part of keeping it strong and preserved for the next generation of metalheads.

"Today is an important day for me as I'm letting you know about my new album, 'The Metalworker'.

"When you do things as a solo artist, it's an immense undertaking to make a record. And, since I'm a perfectionist .... well, you can put that together.

"I have made 'The Metalworker' with no compromises, no filler, no Auto-Tune, no crazy Pro Tools or studio magic. I did it old school, I suppose, by today's standards. Marshalls were cranking while I went for the best takes. Same way the greatest records of all time were made by PRIEST, MAIDEN, MEGADETH and many others.

"I asked the best musicians I could find to make my best album to date. Carlos Zema is a superior singer and he stands in the league of the greats. Mike LePond's bass playing drives forward SYMPHONY X, which, we all know, is a killer band. Drummer Kevin Talley has this wild ability to almost read my mind and provide the perfect drum parts to my riffs, which is quite rare. His double-bass skills are almost machine-like and I challenged him with the fastest track I ever recorder — 'Hails And Horns'. Let's just say, wait 'till you hear this!

"Come on down and take part of what I've been doing for the last three years! Horns up forever!"

Best known as the long standing guitarist to JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford, Chlasciak has also recorded and/or shared stages with Bruce Dickinson, Axl Rose, Geoff Tate, Sebastian Bach, Rudolf Schenker and TESTAMENT. He has released several solo-based albums, guitar books, a metal guitar instructional DVD, and writes his own monthly column, "Metal For Life", for Guitar World magazine.

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine was interviewed for the cover story in the June 2013 issue of U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Metal Hammer: Is there a tiny part of you that enjoys provocation?

Mustaine: No, I don't say things to get a reaction. The stuff that I write about is important to me. Some of the subjects on "Peace Sells…" are still relevant, particularly environmental issues. And the personal stuff is relevant. I've written songs about loss and pain — everyone goes through that so, no, I'm not being provocative. We actually have fun songs too. If you're pissed off, the title track on "Super Collider" or "Symphony Of Destruction" might make you feel better.

Metal Hammer: Your mischievous sense of humour and interview rhetoric seems like it has always bordered on the self-destructive?

Mustaine: Yeah, and it doesn't translate well, does it? Probably the biggest thing that has harmed my career is being misunderstood, but is it better to be understood or to understand? I understand much more now, so I'm less inclined to be preaching or complaining about being misquoted now. There are people who love me and people who don't, but everyone's entitled. I have love in my heart for both. I don't get mad about the people who dislike me. You can get obsessed with that. Someone doesn't like me? Tough shit for me!

Metal Hammer: You seem fairly approachable today.

Mustaine: I am approachable! But I have a terrible reputation. There was a guy who used to manage me, and when we had a falling out, I think he started rumours about me being difficult. But we became friends again, and reconciled. And that was all part of a process of reconciliation, including with METALLICA and [MEGADETH bassist David] Ellefson, too. And do you know what? When that happened, my injured arm and injured thumb started working again. Crazy, huh?

You can purchase a copy of the magazine at this location.

Mark Dean of Myglobalmind webzine recently conducted an interview with former ACCEPT and current U.D.O. frontman Udo Dirkschneider. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Myglobalmind: You are about to release a new album, "Steelhammer", which is the first not to feature [guitarist] Stefan Kaufmann.

Udo: Yes, that is correct. The problem was he is a very busy man. He did a recording with [another artist], which took three months, and also played on tour. I think then that the problem was he wanted to move his studio back to his hometown. He didn't want to be involved in the composing and songwriting this time on this album. We had a problem then, at the beginning of this year. He was getting more and more work touring, etc., and he said that he wouldn't have as much time to do this. Then he said that he was out of the band. He did offer to come and help us out if there was any problem and we needed him.

Myglobalmind: That must have been very difficult, personally as well as professionally for you. Stefan has worked with you for a long time, going back to ACCEPT?

Udo: Yes, we have been working together for a very long time now I do everything with Fitty [Wienhold], who is my bass player. We wrote some songs together for the new album and they came out well. He also has a studio where we are living, we produced the album together. In the end, I think that it worked out very well.

Myglobalmind: There are many bands of the Eighties which have reformed and reunited in recent years. Is [a reunion with ACCEPT] something that you have ever been approached about doing, is it something that would interest you?

Udo: That's a very long story. Of course, I have certainly been asked. Unfortunately, Wolf [Hoffmann, ACCEPT guitarist] is telling everybody that he has never been in touch with me, though I can show you tons of e-mails. I have been asked about rejoining for a reunion and didn't directly say no. I did it already once and there was a lot of shit [that] happened. I then said, "OK, guys, if I do this, then I want to have this and this." Wolf then said that he didn't want to do it, so I said "Goodbye. Thank you very much and good luck." [laughs]

Myglobalmind: Do you then prefer to focus on U.D.O., and the future for that band rather than looking back to your legacy with ACCEPT?

Udo: Yes. The problem is if I did ACCEPT again and it doesn't work… then there was an issue regarding the name with Wolf. He was stealing the name in the Eighties. He was also doing interviews to promote "Blood Of Nations" and talking so many bad things about me with so many lies. I don't know why he did that. However, that is history now.

Myglobalmind: How do you maintain your energy, particularly on stage?

Udo: Many people ask me that, I try to live healthily as possible. I do nothing special, exercise-wise or whatever. I walk a lot, and in the summertime I do a lot of swimming and running. The shows are fun for me to do and I like to be on tour and that also keeps you fresh.

Read the entire interview from Myglobalmind webzine.

Denmark's MERCENARY will release their new album, Through Our Darkest Days, on July 26th through NoiseArt Records.

“On Metamorphosis it was important for us to reinvent our sound and experiment rather than just trying to copying the sound of the old line-up," says frontman/bassist René Pedersen. "And we were really happy with the direction and the result. But with Through Our Darkest Days we felt that the right thing to do was to combine the new elements with more classic elements from Mercenary's older material, so it's only fair to say that the new album combines the best of both eras of the band.”



Again Mercenary decided to record with long time collaborator and Danish master producer Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, HATESPHERE) in order to get the signature powerful and crystal clear production, and for the first time the cover artwork was done by MNEMIC guitar player Mircea Gabriel Eftemie.

Through Our Darkest Days features the following tracks:
'A New Dawn'
'Welcome The Sickness'
'Through Our Darkest Days'
'Dreamstate Machine'
'A Moment Of Clarity'
'Beyond This Night'
'Starving Eyes'
'Generation Hate'
'Forever The Unknown'
'Holding On To Serenity' (bonus track)
Mercenary have announced a European headline tour in support of their upcoming album, Through Our Darkest Days, which will be released on July 26th through NoiseArt Records. Travelling with them will be OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Tour dates include:

August
30 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
31 - München, Germany - Backstage Club

September
1 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Gallery
4 - Bucharest, Romania - The Silver Church Club
5 - Budapest, Hungary - TBA
6 - Wien, Austria - Escape
7 - Brno, Czech Republic - Melodka
8 - Berlin, Germany - Magnet
11 - Vooselaar, Belgium - Biebob
12 - London, England - The Underworld
14 - Stuttgart, Germany - Club Zentral
15 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Dynamo

More on Mercenary at this location.

Melodic progressive power metal act ARTIZAN will see their newly-released album, Ancestral Energy, issued on vinyl LP on June 28th. The limited vinyl edition consists of 500 pieces and comes with a A3 poster and gatefold. As a special bonus, the red vinyls get an additional patch. The pre-order phase will start on June 14th at the Pure Steel Records webshop.

Ancestral Energy features album artwork was created by Eliran Kantor, who has accumulated an extensive body of work including pieces for TESTAMENT, HATEBREED, SIGH, ATHEIST and AGHORA.
LP tracklisting:

Side A
'I Am The Storm'
'The Raven Queen'
'The Guardian'
'The Death Of Me'

Side B
'Deep Ocean Dreams'
'You Can't Take The Metal'
'Ancestral Energy'

An official promo trailer can be viewed below:
Visit Artizan on Facebook.

Danish thrash metallers HELL'S DOMAIN, which features ex-members of HATESPHERE, ARTILLERY, KOLDBORN, EXMORTEM, CRIONIC, continue work on their debut album at Antfarm Studio with renowned producer Tue Madsen. The band have also revealed that they are working with legendary metal artist Ed Repka (DEATH, MEGADETH) on the album artwork.
Hell's Domain are streaming an audio snippet from their forthcoming debut full-length. The band states via Facebook: "Fuck it! We couldn't wait... here is the very first snippet of audio from the upcoming album!! Merely a raw mix, but it already sounds awesome!!! We haven't really looked for a label yet, but if you have a suggestion as to which label should have the honour, please post a comment! Oh, and share, share, share!!!"
Stay tuned for updates.

Hell's Domain was formed by guitarist Bjørn Bihlet (ex-KOLDBORN, HORNED ALMIGHTY) and bassist Lars Knudsen (ex-CRIONIC) in 2007, with the intention of churning out some catchy Bay Area-inspired thrash metal. Soon joined by Anders Gyldenøhr on drums and Alex Clausen (ex-Grope, MONSTAH) on vocals, Hell's Domain recorded their three song debut demo between December 2009 and March 2011. The band completed their lineup in 2011 with the addition of former EXMORTEM axeman Andreas Schubert and played their debut concert in their hometown of Aarhus, Denmark on January 12th, 2012 (see video footage below).
Hell's Domain lineup:

Alex Clausen - Vocals
Bjørn Bihlet - Guitar
Andreas Schubert - Guitar
Lars Knudsen - Bass
Anders Gyldenøhr - Drums

More on the band at this location.

Australian power metallers DRAGONSCLAW have released the first single from their upcoming album Judgement Day. The song 'Watching My Every Move' features former ACCEPT/BANGALORE CHOIR singer David Reece on vocals.
Judgement Day is due for release later this year and also features Jack Starr ( JACK STARR'S BURNING STARR) who plays a "killer solo" on the track 'Battle Cry', which is the band's tribute to RIOT and Mark Reale's musical legacy, and Natalie Whitton of the CURSING STONE contributes choir vocals on the track 'Fear'.
A rough mix album sampler of Judgement Day has been posted online and can be heard below:
For more details visit Dragonsclaw on Facebook.

Swedish melodic rockers GRAND DESIGN have released the new digital single/video, 'Baby It’s You', a re-vamped and Grand Designerized cover of Candian band PROMISES 1978 hit.

The video is the first release featuring the new lineup and the song also features a special guest. Since Grand Design is all about the 80s, Swedish singer Susie Päivärinta of the popular Swedish 80s pop-duo LILI & SUSIE does an stellar guest appearance, hitting some pretty high notes in this old classic.

The single can be purchased from iTunes, CDbaby.com, Rhapsody, Amazon, etc. Check out the video:
Grand Design lineup:

Pelle Saether - vocals
Dennis Vestman - guitar, backing vocals
Janne Stark - guitar, backing vocals
Mats Vassfjord - bass, backing vocals
Magnus Ulfstedt - drums, backing vocals

More on Grand Design at this location.

Steamhammer/SPV recently signed REBELLIOUS SPIRIT, a quartet from Southern Germany and promising new hard rock band consisting of members between 17 and 20 years of age. Their debut album, Gamble Shot, will be out on June 21st in Germany, June 24th throughout Europe, and July 2nd in North America.

The first single 'Sweet Access Right' will be released on May 31st - check out the artwork and an audio teaser below:
Gamble Shot features the following tracks:

Digipak
'Let`s Bring Back'
'Sweet Access Right'
'Cry For You'
'Change The World'
'Lights Out'
'Gone Wild'
'Don`t Leave Me'
'You`re Not The Only One'
'Forever Young'
'Rock it'
'Lights Out' (bonus video)
'Change The World' (unplugged live) – bonus video
'Sweet Access Right' (unplugged live) – bonus video
Jewel Case
'Let`s Bring Back'
'Sweet Access Right'
'Cry For You'
'Change The World'
'Lights Out'
'Gone Wild'
'Don`t Leave Me'
'You`re Not The Only One'
'Forever Young'
'Rock it'

The band recently released the first video from Gamble Shot for the song 'Lights Out' - view it below:
Rebellious Spirit were founded in summer 2010. Alongside brothers Jannik Fischer (17, vocals/guitar) and Jens Fischer (20, bass/vocals) are Silvio Bizer (18, drums) and Corvin Domhardt (18, guitar/vocals) complete the lineup. After a number of trial concerts, autumn 2010 saw them record their demo CD Heart Of Swabia featuring three original songs and three cover versions. In the meantime, the band has played more than 40 gigs, among them the Rock Of Ages, and have supported RECKLESS LOVE, KISSIN’ DYNAMITE and PUSSY SISSTER in Holland, Flensburg, Cologne and Munich.
Jens Fischer: “We can hardly wait for Gamble Shot to arrive at the stores at last so that we can present our new material to a larger audience.”

More on Rebellious Spirit and their upcoming tour schedule at this location.

Brazil's HELLISH WAR will release their new album, Keep It Hellish, on June 28th via Pure Steel Records. Produced by Ricardo Piccoli at PiccoliStudio in Biella, Italy, Keep It Hellish marks the premier of new vocalist Bil Martins.
Keep It Hellish tracklisting:

'Keep It Hellish'
'The Challenge'
'Reflects On The Blade'
'Fire And Killing'
'Master Of Wreckage'
'Battle At Sea'
'Phantom Ship'
'Scars (Underneath Your Skin)'
'Darkness Ride'
'The Quest'
Hellish War lineup:

Bil Martins - Vocals
Vulcano - Guitar
Daniel Job - Guitar
JR - Bass
Daniel Person - Drums
More on Hellish War at this location.

Detroit's WILSON have revealed the artwork and tracklisting for their debut album, Full Blast Fuckery, out on July 9th via Easy Killer Records.
Full Blast Fuckery tracklisting:

'My Life My Grave'
'Better Off (Strictly Doods)'
'Passing on the Left'
'College Gangbang'
'Snake Eyes'
'I Can Beat Your Dad'
'Viking Pussies Fuck Off'
'If You Ever Leave Me I Will Find You'
'Susan Jane'
'Live in Corpus Christi'

The band recently premiered the first music video from Full Blast Fuckery, for the track 'Viking Pussies Fuck Off':
After a successful tour with GWAR and WARBEAST, Wilson are on the road supporting NEWSTED this month. Wilson is a band that has toured relentlessly since since 2010, through big cities and little podunks. A band that records its albums the ol' fashioned way: with instruments. And analog gear. Fifth and sixth and twentieth takes. A band that brings that last Friday night on Earth mentality equally to huge crowds and audiences of two solitary dudes.
Wilson tour dates:

May (with Newsted):
17 - Pontiac, MI - The Crofoot
18 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
21 - New York, NY - Highline Ballroom
22 - Cambridge, MA - The Middle East Downstairs
23 - Asbury Park, NJ - The Stone Pony
Festivals:

May
25 - Howell, MI - Bled Fest (with Anti-Flag, Andrew WK and more)

July
10 - Lansing, MI - Common Ground Music Festival (with Slash, Monster Truck and more)

More on Wilson at this location.

Norwegian black metallers GRAVDAL announced today that they are parting company with guitarist Specter. The parting is completely amicable, with Specter deciding that he needs to commit more time to other projects, something that Gravdal both supports and understands. Commenting on the split, guitarist Phobos said: “It was a big decision to have to take since Specter has been with us for seven years, and he has been instrumental in shaping Gravdal’s music into what it is today. But the music business has always been very fluid, and although we will miss him both as a musician and as a person, we fully support his decision and would like to thank him for his massive contribution to Gravdal, as well as for all the good times, and we wish him well for the future.”

Things on the Gravdal front have been somewhat quiet since the release of the band’s sophomore full-length album Torturmantra in 2010, due in part to Phobos’ recording commitments with AETERNUS, for whom he is found in his more usual role behind the drumkit, as well as with GALAR. But the band have now started working on the follow up to Torturmantra, which featured a show-stopping guest performance by SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth on the track 'Mishandlet'. According to Phobos, “We are ready to reveal that the album will be called Kadaverin but more than that we can’t say at the moment. With our second album we took a huge step forward, expanding the range of the band considerably so rest assured that with Kadaverin we will be taking things even further.”
More information about Gravdal can be found on the band’s Facebook page.

Six tracks from Gravdal can be heard on the band’s SoundCloud page at http://soundcloud.com/Gravdal/sets or embedded using the following code:

Gravdal PLAYER by Gravdal

Footage of Gravdal performing the track 'Selvmord' from the album Sadist can be seen below:

Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON recently entered the studio to begin recording their new album for a late 2013 release. The band's frontman, Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven, states in a new online posting: "The recording is coming to an end. Next week will be the last before the mix. Finally some light at the end of the tunnel after almost four months of recording! Right now I am just looking forward to share this with you and see what you think. It will be a while though, but it will be worth it. I am sure."

SATYRICON's new CD will feature a guest appearance by Sivert Høyem, the Norwegian singer best known as the vocalist of the rock band MADRUGADA.

Speaking to AOL's Noisecreep at this year's Inferno festival, Satyr stated about SATYRICON's upcoming album: "To me, it sounds very authentic, it's organic-sounding. And in this digital age where music is mostly played through computers, a lot of that analog vibe gets lost in translation when you play music through medias like that, but I still wanna do it because there's nothing quite like it. To me, it just makes everything sound the way it's supposed to sound — it's dynamical; the music is alive, it's not overly compressed, the levels are not pushed. So, musically speaking, it's a very atmospheric record… This record is full of life. There are a lot of surprises here, but I think it's gonna be a record that's gonna help the black metal movement perhaps find a new way for the future."

As previously reported, SATYRICON will perform with the Norwegian National Opera Chorus on September 8 at Den Norske Opera & Ballett in Oslo, Norway.

A press release states: "Mixing musical modes of expression is always interesting. New sound pictures emerge, and when they are successful, new directions in style and genre are created.

"What would a mix of heavy metal rockers and singers with operatic training produce? Let's find out! When the internationally renowned heavy metal group SATYRICON mix with the voluminous voices of the Norwegian National Opera Chorus, we can expect some thrilling surprises with two such powerful and monumental sound sources and widely divergent modes of expression come together as one.

"Will it be operatic metal or heavy metal opera? Performed as part of the Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival."

"First To Fight", a brand new song from CIVIL WAR — the new Swedish metal band featuring former SABATON members Rikard Sundén (guitar), Daniel Mullback (drums), Daniel Mÿhr (keyboards) and Oskar Montelius (guitar) alongside singer Patrik Johansson (ASTRAL DOORS, LION'S SHARE) and bassist Stefan "Pizza" Eriksson (VOLTURYON) — can be streamed below. The track comes off CIVIL WAR's full-length debut, "The Killer Angels", which will be made available on June 11 via Despotz Records. The group states: "The album deals with a lot of stuff: heroes, traitors, battles and heavy metal....and yes: we have a song called 'Gettysburg'."

"The Killer Angels" track listing:

01. King Of The Sun
02. First To Fight
03. Saint Patrick's Day
04. Rome Is Falling
05. Sons Of Avalon
06. I Will Rule The Universe
07. Lucifer's Court
08. Brother Judas
09. My Own Worst Enemy
10. Gettysburg
11. March Across The Belts (bonus track)

CIVIL WAR's debut EP was released on November 13, 2012 via Despotz Records.

According to Sundén, CIVIL WAR's sound is "more old-school hard rock," with "a little less keyboards" than that of SABATON. He says, "With Patrik's vocals on top, it becomes a different thing, but there are some parallels [to our previous band]."

Regarding how CIVIL WAR came together, b>Mullback told the Swedish-language newspaper Dalarnas Tidningar (DT), "It came pretty naturally. We always thought Patrik had a good voice and he accepted our offer when we asked him to join the band."

"I had no hesitation about getting involved," Patrik said. "ASTRAL DOORS certainly has a solid fan base, but we are a little more underground. I see this as an opportunity to reach a wider audience."

The four ex members of SABATON were never involved in the songwriting process with their former band since those duties were usually handled by vocalist Joakim Brodén. But in the new group, everyone is contributing ideas.

"This has been a reawakening of sorts," Mÿhr said. "I have never been in a situation where there has been so much creativity."

On the topic of whether CIVIL WAR will continue SABATON's tradition of focusing on war-related themes in its lyrics, Mÿhr said, "No, we won't. Now the lyrics can be about anything. [CIVIL WAR was just] a good name that sounded good."

"First To Fight" audio stream:

The Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE played a brand new song, "Fallout", for the first time last night (Saturday, May 18) at the Rock Hard Festival at Amphitheater in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

The Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE will release its new album, simply titled "Queensrÿche", on June 25 via Century Media Records. The cover artwork was created by Craig Howell, who has previously worked on designs for "Star Wars", SLIPKNOT and "American Idol", to name a few.

"Queensrÿche" marks the debut release from the lineup comprised of La Torre (vocals; ex-CRIMSON GLORY), Michael Wilton (guitar), Parker Lundgren (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums). The drums for the album were recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington with producer James "Jimbo" Barton — the man who engineered and mixed the band's classic 1988 LP, "Operation: Mindcrime", and its 1990 follow-up, "Empire", and co-produced 1994's "Promised Land". The rest of the music and vocals were laid down at several different facilities on the West Coast.

"Queensrÿche" track listing:

01. X2
02. Where Dreams Go To Die
03. Spore
04. In This Light
05. Redemption
06. Vindication
07. Midnight Lullaby
08. A World Without
09. Don't Look Back
10. Fallout
11. Open Road

Several versions of "Queensrÿche" are now available for pre-order:

*** Standard Jewel Case Version
Regular CD that includes a 4x4 patch.

*** Deluxe Box Set Edition CD (North America only)

Regular CD with the following bonus tracks:

* Queen Of The Reich (live)
* En Force (live)
* Prophecy (live)
Housed in a small box with an exclusive patch, sticker, guitar pick and button pack.

*** 2-CD Media Book (For Europe only)
Standard CD, plus 2nd CD with the following bonus tracks, all recorded live in Snoqualmie, WA on October 27, 2012:

01. Queen Of The Reich (live)
02. En Force (live)
03. Prophecy (live)

*** LP Version
One LP with the standard cd inserted into the sleeve as a bonus.

Side A

01. X2
02. Where Dreams Go To Die
03. Spore
04. In This Light
05. Redemption
06. Vindication

Side B

01. Midnight Lullaby
02. A World Without
03. Don't Look Back
04. Fallout
05. Open Road
06. Queen Of The Reich (live)
07. En Force (live)

*** iTunes Digital Version
Standard CD version, plus the following bonus tracks:

01. Queen Of The Reich (live)
02. En Force (live)

Fans were treated to a taste of the new album when the band released "Redemption" and it has been garnering praise ever since. The song has been listened to over 185,000 times on YouTube since it was unveiled in March.

Asked which album in QUEENSRŸCHE's catalog would most closely compare to what the band is doing now, drummer Scott Rockenfield told "Noize In The Attic": "Our big goal was, once we kind of made our transition last year and moved on as a band, and Todd being in the band, and our focus of the live shows and everything, it's always kind of been about looking at what really made QUEENSRŸCHE special. And for the live show, it's the old stuff. And we've been focusing a lot, in the show, doing that, for the last year, and we're continue to focus on doing that. On the record, I think the vein of what the record is a combination of all that great old stuff that we're kind of known best for. I mean, for me, I kind of summarize it by saying, to me, it's everything from the [debut] EP up to 'Empire', or maybe even 'Promised Land' at that point, which is, to me, the most defining catalog that we've ever done. And I think for this record, it's visiting that and taking that into the future."

Added guitarist Michael Wilton: "I also think that when you hear this record, each song is gonna be unique in its own. For people that have heard the single that's on YouTube called 'Redemption'. Everybody's asking, 'Is the album gonna sound just like that?' And I can say, 'No.' What's great about this record is that every individual here was in the creative process and the writing — there was no outside writers, like [there were] on the last few albums. And it really shows, and it's a real great blend of everybody's strength and their creative elements, and the songs are definitely reflective of the personalities of this band right now."

Continued Scott: "I think that's important. Especially what Michael was saying. I think the focus of that earlier stuff, there was a massive chemistry between all of us that really worked, and we wanted to find that chemistry again, 'cause we've, unfortunately, had to struggle with that the last few years. But we always knew that that's what we wanted to do, so now that we're able to do that, finding that chemistry and that energy that got us to make those records is what that energy now is in this record. And Michael's right: the songs, there's a great variety of things in it, but they're all QUEENSRŸCHE, they're all us doing it, it's our chemistry of working together."

Said Michael: "If you listen to all the other albums, like from 'Promised Land' back to the EP, you're gonna hear all these dynamics, from song after another song — you're gonna hear those dynamics, and that's the same sort of approach we wanted to take on this new one."

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE have premiered another track, 'My God Is The Sun', from their upcoming sixth studio album, ...Like Clockwork, due on June 4th via Matador Records (Beggars Group).
...Like Clockwork was produced by Joshua Homme and QOTSA and recorded by Mark Rankin at Pink Duck Studios in Burbank, California. The album includes drums by Dave Grohl (FOO FIGHTERS, NIRVANA), Joey Castillo and Jon Theodore, and guest appearances by ELTON JOHN, Trent Reznor (NINE INCH NAILS), Mark Lanegan (SCREAMING TREES), ex-Queens Of The Stone Age bassist/vocalist Nick Oliveri, Jake Shears (THE SCISSOR SISTERS), James Lavelle and Alex Turner.
…Like Clockwork tracklisting:

'Keep Your Eyes Peeled'
'I Sat By The Ocean'
'The Vampyre Of Time And Memory'
'If I Had A Tail'
'My God Is The Sun'
'Kalopsia'
'Fairweather Friends'
'Smooth Sailing'
'I Appear Missing'
'…Like Clockwork'

The band recently premiered the album track 'If I Had A Tail':
A trailer for the upcoming video for 'Kalopsia' can be seen below:
The 'I Appear Missing' video, created by UK-based artist Boneface, follows:
'My God Is The Sun' track stream:
An iTunes pre-order for …Like Clockwork includes an instant download of 'My God Is The Sun' and is now available.

Described by Joshua Homme as "an audio documentary of a manic year", ...Like Clockwork is the band's first full-length collection of all new material since 2007's Era Vulgaris, as well as the band's debut release on new label partner Matador.

...Like Clockwork will be supported by an extensive world tour, marking the group's return to the stage for the first time since the limited dates that commemorated the 2011 re-release of the band's self-titled 1998 debut.

Guitarist Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz (pictured below), who has been writing music for Massachusetts metallers THE ACACIA STRAIN but hasn't toured with the band for several years, will not be part of the creative team on the group's future albums.

Says Laskiewicz in a posting on his Facebook page: "Well, if you haven't noticed, I haven't played a show with THE ACACIA STRAIN in years and I've just been writing the music for them. I've been informed today that they will continue on without me, meaning shows and writing albums. This is totally understandable and I wish the band the best. I'll be around, as I'm still recording and producing and also have another project in the works. So once again, I WILL NOT be writing for THE ACACIA STRAIN anymore. It's been fun tas, later!"

During THE ACACIA STRAIN's tenure with Prosthetic Records, the band released four acclaimed studio albums — two of which, 2008's "Continent" and 2010's "Wormwood", cracked the Billboard chart — as well as a Top 10 live DVD. To commemorate the end of an era, Prosthetic has assembled "Money For Nothing", a compilation of rarities, B-sides and previously unheard tracks by the band. The six-track release, which was released on February 19, was made available as a specially priced digital EP and a limited-edition digipak.

"Death Is The Only Mortal", the latest album from THE ACACIA STRAIN, sold 8,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 50 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on October 9, 2012 via Rise Records, the CD was produced by Laskiewicz at his Western Massachusetts studio.

Emerging Newcastle, UK melodic/metal-core outfit HARLOT have announced the release of their debut single, 'Saviour'. The track is the first release from the band's forthcoming Wolves EP debut. It can be streamed below:
Intent on bringing their music to a wider audience and joining the ranks of Britian's young rising metal-core artists, Harlot's Wolves EP is set for digital release this summer.

'Saviour' is available via iTunes here.

For information on Harlot go to the band's official Facebook page.

CBS8.com is reporting:

Bail was slashed from $3 million to $2 million for the lead singer of a San Diego-based heavy-metal band, who is accused of trying to arrange the murder of his estranged wife.

At the conclusion of a 90-minute hearing at the Vista Courthouse Friday, AS I LAY DYING front man Timothy Peter Lambesis, 32, had his bail lowered by Judge David Berry.

The courtroom where Friday's hearing took place seats 33 people, dozens of supporters from both sides who showed up were turned away because there was no room for them.

Tom Warwick, the new attorney for Lambesis says his client was mentally unstable due to steroid use, when he allegedly tried to hire an undercover detective to kill his wife.
Friday, he said Lambesis tried to hire a hit man when he was mentally unstable due to steroid use.

He said Lambesis was a good Christian man until he got involved with bodybuilding, which is when the steroid use began.

He alleges that Lambesis tried to hire a hit man while he was getting off the drug and was in a so-called roid rage.

Lambesis was arrested in Oceanside last week after Sheriff's deputies say he gave an undercover detective an envelope containing $1,000, pictures of his wife, her address, gate code and dates when the "hit" could take place.

The prosecuting attorney says Lambesis knew what he was doing.

While the defense wanted the bail lowered to $250,000, the judge lowered his $3 million bail to $2 million.

San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.com

To celebrate WHITESNAKE's return to Sheffield on Monday, May 20th at the Motorpoint Arena (with JOURNEY and THJNDER), the Sheffield Telegraph is offering up a free download of the song 'Love Will Set You Free' from the band's new live album, Made In Japan, out now via Frontiers Records. Click here to download.
To coincide with Whitesnake's UK dates, frontman David Coverdale, who says he now suffers from some hearing loss, spoke with BBC Breakfast and says that his hearing loss is a "trade off" for a successful career.